Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Dodgers, CF Pierre agree to five-year deal … Free agent center fielder Juan Pierre has agreed to a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a source told ESPN.com on Monday. The deal is believed to be worth $44-45 million. — The deal will become complete when Pierre passes a physical exam, the source said.
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Sports Illustrated:
Garciaparra and Dodgers agree to $18.5 million, two-year deal — LOS ANGELES (AP) -Six-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed Monday to an $18.5 million, two-year contract. — The 33-year-old Garciaparra, the NL comeback player of the year …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Dodgers closing in on Pierre; Roberts on move? — The Dodgers are close to signing free-agent center fielder Juan Pierre, possibly paving the way for free-agent outfielder Dave Roberts to sign with the Giants, Brewers or Rangers, FOXSports.com has learned. — The Orioles are on the fringes …
ESPN:
Howard beats out Pujols to win NL MVP award — Ryan Howard won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in his first season. He topped that in his second season by winning the MVP award. — After being named the top rookie in 2005, Howard elevated his performance to a new level in 2006.
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Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Howard's huge year nets him NL MVP — Phils slugger led Majors in homers, RBIs in first full season — PHILADELPHIA — The sheer force of Ryan Howard's gargantuan home runs cannot accurately be measured in speed or total distance, only by the gasps from those watching such a spectacle.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Howard wins NL MVP award — NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Howard had a season that defied convention, one that made him only the second player voted Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in consecutive years. — "I heard sophomore jinx this, sophomore jinx that," he said after beating …
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Soriano, Cubs agree to $136 million, 8-year deal — CHICAGO (AP) — Serious about winning, the Chicago Cubs have become big spenders and have agreed with Alfonso Soriano on the richest contract in club history. — A blend of power and speed, and just the fourth player in major league history …
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ESPN:
The missing piece? Mets ink Alou to one-year deal — The New York Mets have signed free agent outfielder Moises Alou to a one-year, $7.5 million contract with a club option for 2008, the team announced Monday. — The son of former San Francisco manager Felipe Alou …
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Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins bolster 'pen with pair of trades — Fish acquire Lindstrom, Owens from Mets; Gregg from Angels — MIAMI — By pulling off a pair of trades on Monday afternoon, the Marlins better positioned themselves in their quest to reconstruct their bullpen. — In two separate deals …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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MLB.com:
Mets acquire left-handed pitchers Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick from Florida — The New York Mets today acquired two, 23-year-old lefthanded pitchers, Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick from the Florida Marlins in exchange for a pair of righthanded pitchers, Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Mailbag: Free agent comings and goings — Bagwell, Nixon, Pujols, Jennings even Ryan, on fans' minds … We could have re-signed Mark DeRosa for similar money that we are paying Frank Catalanotto. Why? What is the logic here and does it signal the end of Gary Matthews Jr.'s stay with Texas?
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Associated Press:
Yankees, Mussina agree on two-year, $23M deal — NEW YORK — Mike Mussina and the New York Yankees reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $23 million, two-year contract. — Mussina is scheduled to take a physical Tuesday that would allow the deal to be finalized.
Discussion:
Bronx Banter
MLB.com:
Royals acquire catcher Jason LaRue from Reds — Kansas City sends Minor League player to be named to Cincinnati — KANSAS CITY - - The Kansas City Royals have acquired catcher Jason LaRue from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a minor league player to be named, Royals Senior Vice President …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
MLB.com:
Cubs add two to the 40-man roster — The Chicago Cubs have announced that the club has added right-handed pitcher Rocky Cherry and left-handed pitcher Clayton Rapada to their 40-man roster. The Cubs' 40-man roster now stands at 40 players. — Cherry, 27, spent the majority of the 2006 season …
Discussion:
The Cub Reporter
MLB.com:
White Sox add five players to roster — CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have purchased the contracts of left-handed pitchers Heath Phillips and Carlos Vasquez and infielder Andy Gonzalez from Class AAA Charlotte, right-handed pitcher Oneli Perez from Class AA Birmingham and right-hander Dewon Day from Class A Winston-Salem.
John Hickey / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Mariners may join Igawa sweepstakes today — The official first day of posting for Japanese left-handed pitcher Kei Igawa is today, and the Mariners could be among those bidding. — General manager Bill Bavasi won't say one way or another, but club sources indicate Seattle is leaning toward getting …
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